Aurora University Athletics

The Aurora University women's volleyball team claimed the 2026 Jim Coleman Memorial Classic title with a 3-0 weekend record which saw AU win a pair of matches on Saturday over Ohio Northern University and Elmhurst University 3-0. Four Spartans led by MVP Trinity Nelson earned All-Tournament honors with Rosie Karl, Katie Brisk and Katelyn Ruse joining Nelson on the team.


MATCH ONE SCORE: Aurora University 3, Ohio Northern University  0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-16)
MATCH TWO SCORE: Aurora University 3, Elmhurst University 0 (25-14, 25-9, 25-16)
LOCATION: Thornton Gymnasium - Aurora, Illinois
RECORD: Aurora University 4-1 overall


2026 Jim Coleman Classic All-Tournament Team
MVP - Trinity Nelson
Rosie Karl
Katie Brisk
Katelyn Ruse


MATCH ONE:
- The first set was tightly played with the score tied 15-15 before AU pulled away and won 25-18.
- Hazel Cook and Katelyn Ruse led the way with five kills each.
- The second set was tied 7-7 and the Spartans dominated the remainder of the way, out scoring ONU 18-8 on the way to a 25-15 win.
- AU had eight blocks in the set win while Trinity Nelson dished out seven assists.
- The Spartan dominance carried over to the third set with AU opening up a quick 8-1 lead.
- Cook had six kills and three aces in the 25-16 third set win.

MATCH TWO
- The Spartans and Blue Jays went back and forth scoring for the first 14 points (7-7).
- A kill from Izabella Kowalczyk started an AU run of 18-7 for the 25-14 set win.
- The Spartans hit .500 and went without an attack error in the win.
- 13 assists from Nelson went to attackers Rosie Karl (6), Kowalczyk (5) and Ruse (4).
- AU dominated the second set even after trailing 1-0 and won 25-9.
- Karl added seven kills while Nelson had 15 assists in the set win.
- As a team, the Spartans hit .533 in the second set.
- The third set was close for a bit before the Spartans exuded their dominance again and won 25-16.
- Seven Spartans combined for 15 kills in the winning effort.


MATCH ONE
KILLS: Hazel Cook (15)
ASSISTS: Trinity Nelson (25)
DIGS: Katie Brisk and Hazel Cook (12) and Trinity Nelson (10)
ACES: Hazel Cook (4)
BLOCKS: Sophie Knazur (4)

MATCH TWO
KILLS:  Rosie Karl (18) and Izabella Kowalczyk (12)
ASSISTS: Trinity Nelson (38)
DIGS: Katie Brisk (17) 
ACES: Katie Brisk and Payton Schaefer (1)
BLOCKS: Sophie Knazur and Trinity Nelson (3)


Next action for the Spartan women's volleyball team comes Saturday, September 5 when they host Ohio Northern University and Elmhurst University in the Jim Coleman Memorial Classic. Opening serve against Ohio Northern is set for 11:00 a.m. And Elmhurst at 5:00 p.m. in Thornton Gymnasium.